The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Conference met in-person in the nation’s capital this week for the first time since 2019. One of the largest gatherings in the country of Latino leaders and activists focused on empowering the next generation of Latino leaders under the theme “Rooted in Strength, Achieving our Dreams.”
Vice President Kamala Harris delivered opening remarks and spoke about the ways the Biden administration plans to address the most pressing issues facing the Latino community ahead of the midterm elections. Some of those issues were discussed in the more than two dozen sessions hosted by the CHCI such as jobs, the economy, healthcare disparities, and media representation.
Latinos are the second-largest group of voters in the country, and attendees like Cheye-Ann Corona, a CHCI alumni, said she felt inspired by the week’s sessions to strengthen her leadership skills to tackle those matters.
“Ahead of the midterm elections, it’s important to have civic engagement to be connected here to folks that are in government relations and public policy and also to educate ourselves about the issues,” Corona said. “We need to know what those issues are especially as Latino voters because we need to elect people that represent us.”
Ray Solorzano, another CHCI alumnus, added: “A lot of times, people don’t know that people like us are in leadership positions and have the power to create real change. So, by amplifying voices, we are able to really show the progress we’re able to make when we have Latinos in positions of power.”
